Synopsis

I’ve worked a decade for this. I’ve sold my soul and my reputation. I’ve lived a lie, smiled for the cameras, and hated myself, all for this inheritance.

And then … she pops up. A mysterious heir with a rap sheet, combat boots, and a mouth that I want to pin shut with my—

It doesn’t matter. I’ve played this game for a decade. I can continue the charade a little longer, keep my hands to myself and her body out of my mind. I can keep my secret until the ink dries and everything is mine.

Review

Carefully constructed words…intriguing storytelling…meticulous world building…authentic character development…these are all the things I adore about fictional stories, because even though the lives that are created come from an author’s mind, they become quite realistic, allowing readers to enter those texts and settle in for one heck of a wild ride.

Alessandra Torre’s newest release, Hidden Seams, embodies all of the qualities I’ve grown to love about romance stories. Its unique storyline, complex hero and heroine, and double-meaning title proves her ability to think outside the box and offer readers an insightful experience all within the pages of her book.

The title itself forces readers to see beneath the fairytale lifestyle that Marco Lent has led for the past decade with his partner, infamous fashion designer, Vince Horace. Because while Vince is out and proud as a gay man, few people see the reality of their situation because Marco and Vince are experts at concealing the truth…experts at building their brand and their reputation while also hiding behind their label and how it’s presented and represented.

Marco and Vince are a united front, but Marco, the man, is a fraud and now that the fashion world has lost an icon…lost one of its kings, the man who has lived a double-life for 10 years – one that now seems unwarranted – is left wondering where his place is in his own life because he truly hasn’t been his own man since he agreed to Vince’s proposition and became a cover, a kind of beard if you would, for a man who Marco saw as a friend, a father-figure, and a mentor, but keeping up the facade becomes a lot more difficult when a certain woman enters Marco’s world and threatens to burn it to the ground, not necessarily due to her actions but more so due to an electric connection that neither can deny.

If readers have read many of Torre’s stories, they’ll know that she doesn’t usually write the male perspective, but Marco’s point of view is essential to the story line; he’s the only person who can truly shed light on Vince’s choices…he’s the only one who truly saw the man beneath the fashion icon…he’s the only one who knew their truth, and he’s still fighting to protect it, even though the cover is a bit too much for him to bear now that Vince passed away.

Readers need to hear his side of things…need to understand why Marco became Vince’s dutiful partner because even though Marco can dress it up any way he likes…rationalize that it was all done for Vince’s legacy…for his brand…for his empire…it still doesn’t help him in working out where he goes from here now that he’s the only king of the Horace brand.

Avery McKenna is an intriguing heroine; she’s independent, feisty, and not afraid to take risks, even when they could hurt her. Her back story illustrates a girl who

couldn’t fit into her old life, simply because that wasn’t the path she wanted to follow… she didn’t want to live that way…she wanted to make her own path…carry her own weight and in a place like Detroit, she’s done an amazing job in proving her intelligence and her worth, but not even Avery could navigate amongst the fashion elite, so even though she believes that’s where she needs to go for answers, it doesn’t mean she’ll make the correct choices, especially when it comes to a certain fashion designer and a desire fueled on lust and perhaps even love.

Hidden Seams is definitely both Marco and Avery’s story, so hearing both of their sides is paramount to understand the plot line and to build a bridge between their two drastically different lifestyles. Torre smoothly intersects Marco and Avery’s lives and quickly shatters the facade that Marco’s been living for 10 years, but what that means for Marco’s inheritance and where Avery fits in the hidden seams of his life can only be figured out by watching their story play out and willing their truths to be exposed and all I have to say is I enjoyed every delicious and devastating minute!

4.5 Poison Apples

About Alessandra Torre

Alessandra Torre is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of fourteen novels. Her books focus on romance and suspense. Torre has been featured in such publications as Elle and Elle UK, as well as guest blogged for the Huffington Post and RT Book Reviews. She is also the Bedroom Blogger for Cosmopolitan.com.